Emergency imposed by former prime minister, Indira Gandhi in the year 1975, was no doubt a bad thing for democracy, but in no way it was harmful to make the nation disciplined. That is the reason even some of her staunch critics had appreciated the steps taken by her at that crucial juncture.

Democracy is for the disciplined people and unless the people are disciplined, the democracy has no meaning. A wrong notion is prevailing in our country about democracy now-a-days. The simple interpretation of democracy i.e. equal rights in society, is taken as freedom of speech, freedom of work, freedom to abuse or commit nuisance, freedom to live as per one’s life-style.

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It is because of this prevailing wrong notion, there is turmoil in every nook and corner of the country. To add fuel to the fire, political parties in this country try to harvest the benefit of the situation without taking into consideration how it affects the nation. They keep their party’s or own interest in mind.

Developmental activities are badly affected if the situation is not peaceful. In politics, things are always seen from one side and all the political leaders and parties have their own viewpoint, which they want to impose upon others. The anti-social elements and criminals have become a part and parcel in each political scene. They are harbored by the influential and powerful politicians.

The aftermath of the incidents that took place at Ayodhya, on December 6, 1992, raised some serious questions before the nation as regards the protection of country’s constitutional and cultural image. Both the main political rivals the Congress-I and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out openly against each other. One accused the other of ignoring responsibilities to protect the constitutional rights of the people. The whole affair was politicized.

The state government in Uttar Pradesh (UP) ruled by the BJP, was well aware of the fact that the situation would be out of control, if lakhs and lakhs of people were allowed to assemble at a small place like Ayodhya, to ensure the supply of essential commodities and to arrange accommodation for the congregation, was certainly a problem to be solved with intelligence wisdom.

On the other hand, the Central Government under the leadership of the then prime minister, P V Narasimha Rao having full knowledge of the explosive situation, did not take timely decisions to save the country from the great dangers, which sparked off the fire of communal violence in all parts of the country after the demolition of the disputed structure. The riots brought a bad name for the country throughout the world.

The nation would not be in a position to build up its image and secular structure for several years to come. The countrymen have lost faith in teachings of the political parties as they have not fulfilled their commitments according to people’s aspirations. In case of Ayodhya incident, it has been proved that the political leaders only shed crocodile tears after what had happened.

Thousands of innocent people were killed because of the fundamentalist attitude of a few, who were at a long distance from the so-called ‘faith’ or ‘religion’. The need of the hour is to make the nation disciplined, if the country is to progress. Too much freedom to the people, who do not understand its actual meaning is not justified and is disastrous.

People are yet to be educated properly, so that they would be able to perform their duties before demanding their rights. The situation calls for declaring emergency despite all possible opposition by political parties. The politicians exploit the situation either in their own interest or in their parties.

Priority must be given to all efforts at maintaining peace and harmony among all sections of the society. People are to be made aware of their responsibilities towards the nation and the society. The freedom of ‘might and muscle’ rule by anti-socials in the name of democracy must be stopped, if India is to remain one and united.

In the present gloomy situation only emergency in the style of one declared by Indira Gandhi can pave the way to make people aware of their responsibilities.

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